German battlecruisers under naval-law constraints

British governments repeatedly faced pressure to order more warships, even when they wanted to limit construction. Alfred von Tirpitz's German programme instead relied on naval laws and their fixed political commitments. Germany and Japan both faced constraints on the infrastructure needed to build a sufficiently large battle fleet. Large cruisers offered a second squadron that could support their battleships in action. That requirement pushed German designs toward heavier fighting duties.